Replacing Thermocouple In Gas Water Heater

The thermocouple and pilot light tubes both extend from the gas control valve to the burning compartment.

Replacing thermocouple in gas water heater.

The thermocouple is a special sensing tube on gas water heaters that senses when the pilot light has flame and shuts off the gas to the unit when the pilot has been extinguished. When your water heater begins to leak you have to replace it fast. Since almost all major brands of atmospherically vented water heaters have switched from a thermocouple to a t. Regular maintenance will extend the life of your water heater and some repairs such as replacing a pressure relief valve or heating element are pretty simple.

However if you have a leak if your water heater is older than 8 12 years or you just wish to upgrade and cut your energy expense it is time for a new heater. A flame shield or manifold door that you removed from the heater or water heater. Water heaters tend to last seven to 15 years. If you have a gas water heater with a pilot light that won t stay lit it s probably due to a failed thermocouple.

How to replace a thermopile on a water heater. If yours is getting old this article is also for you. We ll show you how to install your own gas water heater in less than a day. Even if you don t need a new water heater right now chances are you will within the next few years.

A bad thermocouple is the most likely culprit when your whirlpool water heater fails to heat the water in the tank. The thermocouple is a thermoelectric device that shuts off the gas if the pilot light goes out. The pilot light heats the thermocouple which generates electric current that tells the gas control valve thermostat to continue to feed gas to the burner assembly. First shut off the gas valve on the water heater and the gas valve on the gas line near the heater.

In simple terms it s a short piece of tubing that runs from the gas controller to the pilot. It is a simple device that converts the heat from a burning flame into a small electrical current allowing it to work like a switch to control the flow of gas from the gas supply valve. Diy hot water heater repair. You should find that you turn the screw counter clockwise to tighten a right hand threaded connector.

Then unfasten the three nuts that hold the thermocouple and the two gas tubes to the valve. The burner typically sits loosely or under clips in the burning chamber and just slides out.